Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-10-07
SOUTH DAKOTA TERRITORIAL,
FAIR,
a Grand Exhibit, Of Which Dakotans
May Well Be Proud

Ny w Cll IOS tTOuC.
The first two days of the fair were a
little gloomy, but the weather bright
ened, giving Us three days Of perfect
september weather, quiet, cool and
clear. The fair grounds are delightfully."-
situated, the buildings good, the race
tracks in prime order, and everything
possible was done by the citizens of
Mitchell to secure the comfort of the
thousands OF visitors who crowded tho
city to its utmost capacity.
The exhibit of stock and vegetable
products was simply surprising to one
who had never before attended a Da.
kota Territorial Fair, and it was said
by those who knew whereof they spoke
that it would compare very favcrabl,
with, and in many cases excel similar
exhibits among the states, both in the
number and quality Of the entries
Among the fine horses the Percheron
Norman, Belgian and other French
draft breeds predominated. Among the
cattle were herds Of Ilolsteins, Here
fords, Shorthorns, Poll Angus and Jer-
seys that delighted the eyes OF all spec
tators with their beauty and strongly
marked characteristics. The exhibit of
sheep, hogs and poultry was not as
large, accordingly, as was that of horses
and cattle, though there were some
fine specimens. Kinds & Anderson of
| Woonsocket took first and second pre-
miums on Chester White hogs.
The county exhibits were good. Clay
county getting the first premium of
$3.50. This exhibit was beautifully ar
ranged, the fruit being especially at
tractive. Over 30 varieties were shown
besides the wild fruit. Black Walnuts
and peanuts also found a place in this
exhibit, melons Of 10 or IL varieties, all
kinds of grains and grasses, and veget-
ables of immense size and countless
kinds. We noticed three squashes,
weighing lao, 151 and 1863 pounds re-
spectively, and broom of which the
brush part was two feet and four inch
es long. The space occupied by the
Clay county exhibit was tastefully
decorated with festoons Of the wild
grapevine LOADED with it's purple clust-
ers, branches OF honey locust, bearing
its rich brown pods, while in bright
contrast were the scarlet berries of the
bitter-sweet.
Faux county secured the second
prize of $500, chiefly on account of the
great size and variety Of her vegetables.
Corn and small grains were shown in
abundance and of excellent quality
That this county should be so success
full seems more wonderful when we
consider that it is but four years since
the first crop was raised and most Of the
vegetables exhibited were grown onsod.
The vegetable exhibit eXcelled that OF
Clay county, but the latter had the
fruit which could only be produced in
the older counties. Sphinx county was
well represented by very nicely ar
ranged exhibit in charge of Z. l.. Noyes
of Tetonka, who took great pride in
showing the advantages of his chosen
locality. This county took the the 3rd
prize of $50.
Jerauld county made a small exhibit,
gotten up at the eleventh hour, yet it
was not put to shame by larger collec-
tons, as the quality was excellent. CIV.
Hill, one Of our most enthusiastic
workers IN the interest Of the farmers,
had charge of the exhibit.
The best individual exhibit was made
by S. w. kidder, of Vermlllion. a corn
stalk of the variety known rs "Y elbow
King" was over ID feet high, and this
corn produced over 100 bushels to the
acre. Mr.. kidder also exhibited about
30 varieties Of apples, and II kinds OF
jelly.
The Brule county exhibit was good,
showing broom corn. fifteen leeI hlsh'
grown on sod; three immense squashes,
aggregating $50 pounds, alfalfa meas
urine five feet four inches, from tip to
tin; about three and one half feet being
tap-root, showing that it would stand
drouth if any vegetable growth could.
This was one summers growth. Other
alfalfa of the second year was shown,
indicating that it will stand our WIN
tiers and will thus prove a valuable adj
dition to the supply of feed when hay
is scarce.
In the Rrule county exhibit were
wild plums from the Missouri river,
which measured AZ inches in clrcum-
ference.
In the fine art hall the display was
exceptionally fine, paintings needle
work crayon-work, and specimens Oh
nenmanship being mostnoticeable. Inc
display of machinery was very interest
ING each machine performing us re-
spective work, prompted by the pig
steam engine near the gate.
>, .A;ol Alliance tent the